System and selector mechanism therefor



yP. c` RAYMOND. `HECORDINKJ SYSTEM AND SELECTOR MECHANISM THEREFORl APPLICATION FILED JULY l5, 918.

1,393,827, Patented 0t.1s,1921

6. SHEETS-SEEN l,

93 91 90 91 Wm/f l P. C. RAYMOND.

'RECORDING SYSTEM AND SELECTOR MECHANISM THEREFOR.

APPLICATION F|LED1uLY|5.1918.

6 SHEETS-SHEE 2.

' 1,393,827. Patented oct. 18, 1921.

@a WMV@ P. C. RAYMOND.

RECORDING SYSTEM AND SELECTOR MECHANISM THEREFR. 1,393,827.

APPLICATION FILED JULY I5, I9I8. 18

6 SHEETS-SHED 3.

P. C. RAYMOND.

RECORDING SYSTEM AND SELECTOR MECHANISM THEREFOR.

APPLICATION FILED IIILY I5. |918.

1,393,827, Patented 001.18, 1921.

6 vSHEliTS--SIHEEI 44.

III

P; @.KRAYMOND. RECORDING SYSTEM AND SELECTOR MECHANISM THEREFOR.

APPLICATION FILED JULY I5. 1918.

1,393,827. Patented A001. 18, 1921.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 5,

' P. C. RAYMOND.

RECORDING SYSTEM AND SELECTOR MECHANISM THEREFOR.

APPLICATION FILED JULY`15, 191B.

6 ySHEETS--SHEEI 6.

Ywanted oct. 18, 1921. y

UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE..

PAUL C. RAYMOND, OF THE UNITED STATES NATIONAL ARMY.

RECORDING SYSTEM AND SELECTOR MECHNISM THEREFOR.

Application filed July 15,

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that l, PAUL C. RAYMOND, a citizen ot the United States, formerly a resident ot Buffalo, county of Erie, State ot New York, and a member of the United States National Army, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Recording Systems and Selector' Mechanism Theretor, of which the following is a speciication.

The invent-ion relates to an improved recording system and to selector mechanism arranged to be controlled by record sheets or cards having data indicated thereon by pertorations, indentations or the like. The invention seeks to provide an improved arrangement of records and selector mechanism whereby the record sheets or cards having any singleitem, groups or combinations ot items indicated thereon may be selected and, it desired, arranged to control the operation of an actuating member, which in turn controls a suitable indicator, counter or register. A further object ot the invention is to provide a record sheet or card having improved means toil indicating items or numbers or groups of items or numbers representing` different data and kinds of data thereon. The invention also seeks to adapt the recording systemand selecting apparatus for use in connection with stencils or embossed plates, together with means for imprinting addresses or other information recorded on the stencils or plates and which are picked out or chosen by the selector mechanism in accordance with ditlerent predetermined requirements or restrictions.

The invention consists in the features of improvement hereinafter set forth and more particularly pointed out in -the appended claims. llhile the present improved records and selecting apparatus can be readily adapted tor use in connection with tabulating or registering mechanism, the invention is shown in the drawings in connection with the improved stencil cards and printing mechanism.

In the drawings, Figure 'l is a plan vievi7 of the improved apparatus, together with a diagram of the electric circuits. Fig. 2 is enlarged plan View of the selector mechanism forming a part ot the improved apparatus, with certain parts broken away to more clearly show the construction. Figs. 3 and 4 are vertical sectionson the lines 3-3 Specification of 1918. Serial No. 245,077.

and t-4, respectively, of Fig. 2. Figs. V5 and 6 are enlarged detail perspective views of parts of the selector mechanism. Fig. 7 is an enlarged vertical section on the line (-i-Y ot Fig. 1, showing the print mechamsm. Figs. 8 and 9 ar-e enlarged detail views of the indicator associated with the print mechanism. Fig. 1() is a plan view of one of the combined record and stencil cards. Figs. l1 and 12 are detail plan and sectional views, respectively, illustrating a modification of the improved selector mechanism.

Individual records may be iormed on a continuous sheet of paper or the like, but prete 'ably separate cards are employed and, n i the particular embodiment of the invention set forth, the cards are in the form of rectangular frames and carry suitable stencil sheets or plates. In the combined record and stencil cards illustrated in the drawings, the body a of the card is formed of quite thick pasteboard or the like, is rectangular in outline and the central portion is cut away to form a space within which a sheet o of thin stencil paper is lsuitably mounted. The items or data recorded on the cards may, of course, pertain to different persons, tllings or transactions and the stencil sheets may bear different items of intormation relating thereto. The card illustrated as an example in Fig. l0 is assumed to be one oi a number of cards upon each of which is recorded data pertaining to different individuals ot' a mailing list and the stencils of the cards bear the names and addresses ot the ditl'erent individuals on 'the list.

Fach record card has a number of index mark positions which may be variously arranged and the different statistics or dat-a may be recorded by forming perforations,y

indentations or the like in thediferent index niark positions. Fre't'erably, the latter are arranged in tivo columns at the longer opposite side edges ot the card and, on each edge, the positions are numbered to represent unit-sftensf7 hundreds and thousands. Preferably, also, the record orp the different items is made by notching the edges ot' the cards in the proper index mark positions, as shown in Fig. 10. Thus, thenumbei-ed card illustrated is notched at its upper edge to represent the number 6943. The various numbers so 'recorded on the ditlferent cards may, of course, represent different data and also different kinds or classes of data. Thus, in the example shown, the in dex mark positions are divided into different fields corresponding respectively to the units, tens, hundreds and thousands and the positions in the units field represent information relative to the family of the individual to whom the card pertains. Similarly, the positions in the tens field represent the kind of house in `which the individual lives, those in the vvided with extra index mark positions represented'in the example shown in Fig. 10 by 0 an( ai positions associated respectively with the units, tens, hundreds and thousands positions. The extra index Ymark positions may be employed in different ways in combination with the numbered index mark positions, so that the number of different combinations of items which may lbe 'recorded in a. small space, for example, along the opposite edges of the card as shown, is very large.

The improved selecting apparatus is ydesigned to pick out different cards and different items or combinations of items recorded on the cards, as predetermined by the user. The selecting apparatus illustrated is mounted upon a base board 10 which is suitably supported on feet 11 (see Fig. 7 lThe cards are placed in the apparatus in a pile or stack between two vertical U-shaped guides 12 which are formed of sheet metal and are adapted to engage the inner and vouter ends, respectively, of the stack of cards. One of these `guides is secured to the central portion of one edge of the base board and the other to two supports 13 which are fixed to the base board and project laterally therefrom. Preferably, as shown, a sheet metal portion 14 integral with the outer vguide 12 extends across and is secured. to the outer ends of the supports 13. The lower portions of the guides .12 snugly engage the 'ends of the cards but, preferably as shown, one of the guides is slightly inclined outwardly so that the stack of cards can be read-ily placed in position.

When the apparatus is in operation, the cards are moved from the stack, one at a time, by a plunger 0r sliding plate 15 which is arranged to reciprocate on a pair of hori- Zontal guides 1G mounted on the supports 13 at thc lower ends of the vertical card guides 12. An arm 17 fixed to the slide 15 is connected at its lower end by a link 18 to one arm of a bell crank lever 19. The latter (see Figs. 1 and et) is arranged below the base board 1() and is mounted to swing upon a pivot Q0, By oscillatingthe lever 19, the` slide 15 is reeiprocated to move the cards one at a time through an opening 21 formed at the lower end of the inner guide 12 and into operative relation with the selector mechanism.

The portion of the selecting apparatus which is directly controlled by the record sheets or cards is arranged adjacent the lower end of the inner guide 12 and is carried upon two horizontal plates or bars 22. 'lhe latter are connected at their ends by two rods 23 and the outer ends of these rods extend through and are fixed to lugs 2lthat project laterally from the lower end of the inner guide 12. The inner plat-e or bar .52 is fixed to a part E25 (see Fig. 1), which together with the lugs 2l, serve to hold the selector frame somewhat above the upper face of the base board 10.

At each side of the selector frame is provided a support for a set of selecting feelers or ting-ers. Each of these supports coniprises a series of thin sheet metal plates Q13 which are substantially square in outline and which are mounted upon a series of three rods 2T (see Figs. 3 and (i). Two of these rods pass through pcrforations in the lower corners of the plates 2G and one through perforated lugs 28 on the upper edges of the plates. The series of plates :2G are held apart in spaced relation by circular washers 29 mounted on the, upper rod ii' and by elongated washers 30 mounted on the two lower rods. .iit their ends the rods QT are fixed to plates 31, which in turn are carried upon the rods Q3 of the selector frame and at their inner ends are connected by studs 32 to the side bars E22 of the selector' frame. Each of the plates Q6 is also provided with an inwardly projecting perforated lug 33 and these lugs carry pivot rods 3l whereon the selecting feelcrs or lingers 3:7 are adapted to oscillate. 'l` he latter are mounted in position between the plates :6 of the holders and each comprises an upper horizontal portion (see Fig, 5) and a downwardly inclined inner end having a semi-circular portion 3G which is notched to fit over the pivot rod fiel and which is provided at the extreme lower end with a tooth 3T.

The selecting feelers 35 are adapted to be remo vably inserted between the plates 26 and the holders therefor and are held in place by sheet metal plates 3S. The latter are pivotally mounted at their upper ends on rods 39 extending between the side pieces 31 and springs 40 engaging the same are arranged to press the lower ends of the plates into engagement with the rounded semi-circular portions 36 of the feelers. Preferably, as shown, the lower edges of these plates are rounded so that they will not interfere with the oscillation of the feelers upon the pivot rods 34.

Two guide plates 4l for the record sheets or cards are mounted upon the feeler holders, being held in place against the lower edges of the plates 2G and washers 30 by rods 42 which are fixed at their ends to depending lugs on the side bars 22 (see Figs. 3 and 4). When the individual record cards are moved from the stack by the slides l5, they are pushed beneath the outer bar 22 of the selector frame and on to the inner edges of the guides 4l, as shown in Fig. 4. Preferably, the outer ends of the guides 41 are slightly inclined downwardly to facilitate this operation. When the card is thus placed in position in the selector f ame, the notches in its edges are adapted to be engaged by the teeth 37 on the lower inner ends of the fillers 35 but, as the card is moved to position in the frame, the teeth 37 of the feelers are held out of its hath of movement by two rods 43 which extend through large central openings in the holder plates 26 and are journaled at their ends in the side bars 22 of the selector frame. These rods extend beneath the horizontal portions of the feelers and hold the latter in the position shown in Fig. 3, with the teeth 37 Vout of the path of movement of the cards so that the latter can be moved into position between the guides 41 and the rounded portions 33 and 36 of the plates and feelers. The rods 43, however, are provided with flat side faces and means are provided for oscillating the rods to thereby release or trip the feelers and permit the teeth 37 thereof 'to engage the opposite side edges of the cards and enter the notches of the cards if in alinement therewith.

The spaces between the plates 26 of the feeler holders correspond. to the different index mark positions of the record cards so that, in setting` up the apparatus for use, the feelers or fingers can be placed in position to engage the notches of the cards which correspond to any particular item or any particular groups or combinations of items. rlhe feelers in each holder cooperate with an actuating'member, or if desired, with two or more actuating members. In the forni shown in Figs. i to 4 inclusive, the actuating member associated with each holder is in the form of a bail 44 having inwardly extending lugs 45 at its ends which are mounted upon the rods 2B that extend between the side pieces 22. Springs 47 coiled about the pivot rod engage the actuating members 44 and tend to depress the same into engagement with the outer ends of the selecting feelers or lingers In the shown position of the parts, the rods 43 normally uphold the lingers 35 and actuating members 44 against the tension of the springs 47, but when one of the record cards is in position in the selector frame and the rods 43 are oscillated, the springs 47 tend to depress the actuating members 44 and the outer ends of the feelers are forced against A the edges of the cards and into the notches in the cards if in alinement therewith. If only one feeler is in position in the holder and is located to correspond to a certain item, this feeler and the actuating member 44 will be shifted whenever a card having a notch corresponding to that particular item is in position in the selector. if tw'o or more feelers or lingers are in place, the actuating member 44 can only be depressed if the teeth 37 on all of the feelers or finge-rs enter notches in the card. Hence, the member 44 will only be operated by cards having notches on one edge corresponding to the feelers in position in one of the holders. Since the feelers or fingers are readily removable and can be set in any desired position corresponding to the various index mark positions representing' the different items or classes of items, it is obvious that the selector may be set to pick out cards having any single item or any group or combination of items reco-rded thereon, as desired or predetermined by the user of the apparatus. Each of the actuating members 44 at the opposite sides of the frame are controlled by the combined operation of the selecting feelers or fingers at one side of the frame. As hereinafter described, the opposite sides of the selector may be used separately or conjointly and, if desired, may be arranged to operate counters or suitable tabulating or sorting mechanisms.

Means are provided for alternately operating' the slide 15 which places the record cards in position and for oscillating the rods 43 to trip the selector fingers. As most clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 4. the inner ends of the rods 43 are provided with upwardly extending rock arms 48 which are connected for simultaneous movement by a link 49. The rear roch arm is connected by a rearwardly extending, laterally offset link 5 0 to the upper end of an oscillating arm 5l. The latter is pivoted intermediate its ends on a. bracket 52 fixed to the base board. its lower end extends through a slot or opening in the base board and is connected by a spring 53 to a stud 54 on the under side of the base. The arm 5l is shifted by a projection 55 on a slide 5G. The latter is of inverted U-shape and is mounted on a pair of guides 57 held in raised position above the base board by studs 58. A cross rod 59 is fixed to the lower portion of the slide 56 and extends laterally beneath the guides 57. This rod engages the. rear end of a longitudinally movable rod 60 having a plate Gl fixed to its forward end. A guide roller 62 on the rod and guide lugs 63 on the plate ei'igage the upper surface of the base 10. i dependingarm- Gl extends downwardly through a slot G5 in the base and its lower end (see Figs. 1 and 7) is connected by a. link 6G to one arm of the bellcrank 19.

lV hen the slide 56 is moved forwardly, the lug thereon engages the upper end of the oscillating arm or lever 51 and shifts it to the dotted position indicated in Fig. 3 against the tension of the spring` 53. The rods or shafts stil are thereby oscillatcd to bring their flattened portions beneath the selector feelers 35 so that the teeth 37 of the feelers may engage the opposite side edges of the record card in position in the selector frame. If all of the feelers in a certain position on either side of the frame enter notches in the card, the corresponding actuating member let is shifted by its spring el?. (ln the forward movement of the slide 5o, the sliding plate 15 is moved to its extreme outer position clear of the cards in the holders or guides 12.. At the end of the for- Yard moven'ient of the slide 56, Vthe lug 55 thereon nioves past the upper end of the arms 51 and the spring 5B restores the arm 51 and shifts the rods 43 to normal position with the outer end of the arm engaging a. spring buffer or stop G7 so that the selector feelers 35 and actuating member de are returned to normal position. On the backward movement of the slide 5G, the plate 15 is moved inwardly to push the nent record card into the selector frame and force the previous card therefrom. During this backward movement, the lug 55 passes over the end of the arm 51 which is yieldingly held in position by the spring stop (3T. rl'he slide plate or plunger 15 is held in engagement with its guide 16 by a cross pin (SS extending through the arm 17 and beneath the guides 13 (see Fig. d). The rod GO is held against vertical movement by a similar cross pin 69 extending throueh the arm (il and beneath the lower edges of the slot G5. To accurately position the record cards in the selector frame, the inward movement of the slide plate is limited by an adjustable stop 'T0 fixed to a projecting bracket 7l on the base board and arranged to engage the arm 17.

rl`he actuating` members 44.- which are controlled by the record cards and selector feel.- ers may operate tabulating, registering or sorting` mechanism, as desired,` and effect such operation either mechanically or electrically. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, these actuating members control electric circuits having switch mechanism therein arranged to effect the separate or conjoint action of the actuatingl members at opposite sides of the selector frame. diagram of the preferred arrangement of the circuits is shown in Fig. 1.

ln the arrangement shown, current is derived for the circuits from battery cells 'T2 secured to the under side of the base board lt). Une terminal of the battery is connected by a conductor TJ-l to the metal selector frame and through this frame to a contact c mounted on one of the actuating members l-i. The conductor 'T3 is also connected by a branched conductor "Il to one of the contacts (l of a knife switch D. The movable contact c is arranged to cooperate with a fixed insulated contact c which is connected b v a conductor T5 to a knife switch ll. rl`he latterhas a contact c which is connected by a branched conductor To to a magnet F and to an audible electric bell, or bur/.zer (lr. the magnet- F being mounted at the upper rear portion of the base board and the bell or buZL/,cr (i on the lower side of the front portion of thc base. The same poles of the magnet lf and of the electric bell are also connectcdby the branched conductor To and a conductor 7.7 to a fixed insulated contact fl. which is arranged to cooperate with the contact arm 71y that is fixed to but is insulated from the other actuating member fl-l. Return coiuluctors To and TS) extend from the magnet l5 and electric bell (l to a knife switch J. rThe contact or terminal j of this switch is connected by a conductor 2S() to the opposite terminal of the battery. lu addition to the contacts c and d, the switches lil and l) are provided with contacts c and d which are connected by a conductor 8l and each switch is so arranged that it may be engaged with either one of its contacts.

In operation. the switch J is engaged with its contact or terminal ",1' to close the battery circuit at this point. lilith switch l) in engagement with its contact or terminal e and with switch D in engagement with its terminal d', the magnet F and electric bell G will be operated only when the pair of contacts c and c are closed and no circuit will be closed when the contacts 71. and /t are engaged. These pairs of contacts in the arrangement shown are normally held open but are engaged when the corresponding` actuating` member del: is shifted. Thus, when the contacts c and c are engaged, the circuit is closed from battery by conductor T3 to the selector frame, thence through contacts c and c', conductor 75, switch E and its contact c, branched conductor 7G to magnet li and electric bell G and bacltto battcry by conductors T8, T9, switch l and its then, when the contacts It and 7L. are eni gaged by the operation of the corresponding actuating member' liet, a circuit is closed from battery by conductor 78, branched conductor 74, contact (l, switch D, thence by conductor 82 which is connected to the insulated contact 71., contact t, conductors TT and TG to the electric bell Gr and magnet F and back to battery by conductors T8, T), switch l and conductor 80. Thus, the switches E and D may be so arranged that the magnet F and electric bell G will be operated only when the actuating member on one side of the selector frame is shifted to engage the corresponding pair of contacts. Under such circumstances, the record cards having certain predetermined items or combinations oi' items indicated along one ot the edges thereof may be selected. Or, by placing the switches E and D in engagement with the contacts c and (Z, the electric switch will be closed through the magnet F and electric bell G when either of the actuating members is shifted to engage either pair of contacts. Under such circumstances, cards. having certain items or combinations of items indicated along one edge thereof and also cards having certain items or combinations of items indicated along the opposite edge can be selected.

By placing the switches E and D in engagement with their contacts or terminals c and d. both actuating members must be shifted to close both pairs oli contacts in order to complete the circuit. Under such circumstances, the current flows from battery by conductor 73 to the selector trame, engaged contacts c and c, conductor 75, switch E and its contact e', conductor 81., contact d and switch D, conductor 82, contacts 7L. and z. and conductors 77 and 76 to bell (i and magnet F and back to battery as before, through conductors 78, 79, switch J and conductor 80. Under such circumw stances, fards having certain combinations and characteristics indicated on opposite side edges may be selected.

A moditied arrangement ot the selector tingers and parts and circuits controlled thereby is shown in Figs. 11 and 12. In this Yform, an additional actuating member 414: is provided at each side ot' the selector trame and is arranged to be controlled by a set ot relatively short selector tingers These supplemental actuating members are provided with insulated Contact arms which are arranged to be shifted into engagement with the fixed insulated contacts 7e. In other respects, the construction shown in Figs. 11 and 12 is entirely similar to that shown in Figs. 1 to 4t inclusive, but in Figs. 11 and 12, for the sake of clearness the separating plates and washers ot the holders tor the selector fingers are omitted.

As indicated in Fig. 12, the additional contacts 7c and e control a supplemental circuit 83 extending from a battery 84 through the pairs olf contacts c and to a relay magnet B. Switches 85 are provided in this circuit so arranged that either pair of contacts may be cut out or both connected in series, as shown in Fig. 1.2. The relay R controls an armature r which is arranged to open a pair of normally engaged contacts 21 which are interposed in the conductor 80 of the main operating circuit.

rllhe arrangement set forth in Figs. 11 and 12 is more particularly adapted for selecting cards in accordance with restrictions or negative requirements. That is to say, to select all cards in accordance with certain items or combinations of items, but rejecting from the -ards so selected all those having certain other items. For example, it may be required to pick out from the list all individuals ot a certain age and having other characteristics or qualifications, but not Germans. Under such circumstances, the relatively long selecting fingers 35 would be Set to copera-te with the actuating members 44 in accordance with the positive qualifications or characteristics, and the user would set the relatively short selecting lingers 35 in accordance with the nega-tive items or characteristics which are to be rejected. Under such circumstances, the longer selecting fingers 35 and actuating members 44 will operate in the manner already described in connection with all cards having the positive requirements indicated thereon but any card having also the negative requirement or characteristic which is to be rejected will effect the operation of the supplemental actuating bar or bars 44 to thereby close the circuit 88 by means ot the contacts 7c, 7c and operate the relay R. This relay opens the main operating circuit and no selection will be effected.

By setting the feelers 35 and 35 and by manipulating the switches E, D and 85, the selector mechanism can be readily Set to malte. selections in accordance with different items and in accordance with different positive and negative requirements, and it is not necessary to change the electric wiring of the selector mechanism. The holders for the selecting feelers or fingers are provided with seats corresponding in position to the numbered indeX mark positions and also with seats corresponding to eXtra index mark positions which are associated respectively with the units, tens, hundreds, etc positions, and by this means the selection ot records in accordance with various requirements is greatly facilitated. For

associated ai position also punched or notched; those. having items recorded only in the units and tens field would have the ai position associated with the tens field punched or notched; those having items in the units, tens and hundreds field,

-would bear marks in the fr position associated with the hundreds field. Under such circumstances, it would be possible to select or" pick out all cards marked, for example, in positions 4 or 74 or 174 by simply placing a single teeler in the position corresponding to the 4 position of the umts field. But if it was desired to select all records marked in position 4 and exclude all those marked in positions 74 or 174, or any other number ending in 4, it would only be necessary to place feelers in the holder in the positions corresponding to the 4 and ai positions of the units field. Or, by placing a feeler in the m position associ'ated with the tens, and feelers in one of the tens and in one of the units positions, records marked to correspond with any number less than one hundred, for -eX- ample 74, could be selected but excluding records marked to correspond with number greater than one hundred but ending in 74. In this way, many selections in accordance with various predetermined requirements or conditions can be made by running a set of records once through the selector mechanism which otherwise would require a number of such operations.

Obviously, if desired, the main magnet F may control a counter. In the form shown, it is arranged to effect the operation of an indicator drop 86 which is held in normal position by a catch 87 connected to the arma ture 83 of the magnet (see Fig. 8). lhen the magnet is actuated, the drop is shifted to indicating position. A resetting` member Y89 is mounted on one edge of the base board l0 by a pair of screws 99 which extends through slots 91 therein and the member is held inv normal. position by the spring 92. On the return movement of the slide 56, its rear end will engage the rearwardly turned rear end portion 93 of:l the resetting member 89 and the upwardly turned forward end portion 94 will, it the 'drop has been actuated. return the latter to normalposition.

there stencil record cards are employed, addresses or other information contained on the selected cards can be printed by suitable means. In the arrangement shown, the combined recordV and stencil cards pass Jfrom the selector frame (see Figs. 1, 4 and 7) into engagement with a pair of guides 95 the inner vedges of which are shaped to engage the opposite longer side edges of the cards. At their outer ends, these guides are fixed to a bracket 9G which in turn at one end is fixed to the base boar-d 10 and projects upwardly therefrom. The inner ends of the guides 95 are fixed to the bracket 25 (see Fig. 4)*of inverted U-shape, which is se cured to the adjacent side bar 2O of the sclector frame. The card guides 95 are arranged as shown directly in trout of the guides 57 on which the slideI 56 is mounted. A U-shaped frame 9S pivotally mounted at the forward end of the slide 5G carries an impression roller 99 and a series of inking rollers 190. It is also provided at its 'lorward portion with an operating handle lill. By means of1 the latter, the slide o() can be readily reciprocatcd and the impression roller 99 brought into and out of position over the stencil cards in the guides 95. The plate G1 fixed to the, rod G9 also reeiproeatcs with the parts and as shown. provided with a downwardly and forwardly projecting triangular portion 192 which terminates in a lug 19?) extending into the slot (i5 in the base board. By placing envelops, wrappers or the like on the base board beneath the guides 95. the plate or platen (il will act to lift the samel into proper position to receive the impression from a stencil card in the guides 95 when the roller 99 is depressed and moved over the stencil.

A business concern frequently desires to send out notices, advertising cii'culars and the like only to individuals on its mailingl list having certain characteristics or quali|ications. 3y properly setting the selector mechanism, the stencil cards bearing the names and addresses of the individuals on the mailing list can be rapidly run through the selector mechanism. the cards corresponding to the desired individuals selected and the addresses thereon imprinted on envelops. wrappers or the like.

It is obvious that the improved record system and selecting apparatus may be employed for other purposes than that specifi cally set forth and that numerous other changes may be made without departure `trom the essentials ot the invention as defined by the claims.

I claim as my invention 1. In a record sheet controlled selector mechanism. the combination of a set of feelers individually adjustable into and out of operative position and individually movable in operative position under control ot the record sheets. means for bringing the feelcrs in oiicrative position into engagement with the record sheets. and a common acti ator selectively controlled b v the combined movement ot all the feelers. whether one or more. in operative position.

2 In a record sheet controlled selector mechanism. the combination of a holder having seats corresponding in munber and position with the index mark positions of the record Isheets. a set of selecting 'licelers` individually adjustable into and out of operative position in said seats and individually movable in operative position under control of the record sheets, means for engagging the feelers in operative position with the record sheets, and a common actuating member selectively controlled by the combined movement ot' all ot' the teelers in operative position in said seats.

3. In a record sheet controlled selector, the combination of selecting teelers individuallyadjustable into and out ot operative 'position and individually movable in opi tuating member mechanically controlled by the combined movement ot the .teelers Whether one or more, in operative position.

'4. In a record sheet controlled selector, the combination of selecting' teelcrs individually adjustable into and out of operative position an-d individually7 movable in operative position under control ot the record sheets, means for bringingy the record sheets successively into engagement ivith the teelers in operative position, a common actuating'member selectively and mechanically controlled by the combined movement oi the teelers in operative position. and an electric circuit controlled by said actuator. i

5. In a record sheet controlled selector, the combination et a number ot' selectingY ieelers adapted to be set in and removed trom operative position, means tor bring'- ing the record sheets successively into engagement with the teelers in operative position, and a plurality of actuating' members each arranged to be controlled by one ot said ieelers or by the combined ope-ration of a number` of teelers.

6. In a record sheet controlled selector, the combination of a number ot selecting' teelers adapted' to be set in and removed from operative position, means for bring'- ing the record'sheets successively into engagement with the eelers in operative position, a plurality oi' actuating' members cach arrangedy to be selectively controlled by oneor by a number of saidieelers. and means adapted to be controlled by said actuating members individually or by the combined operation et said actuating` members.

7. In a record sheet controlled selector. the combination ot a number oi selecting feelers adapte-d to be set in and remover from operative position, and means for bringing the record sheets successively into engagement with the teelers in operative position. a number ot pairs ot contacts each arranged to be controlled by one or by a combination ot said feeders, and an electro-magnetic device arranged to be controlled by one or by a combination o'f said pairs oi? contacts.

8. In a record sheet controlled selector. the combination of a number ot selecting feelers adapted to be set in and removed trom operative position, means for bringing` the record sheets successively into engagement with the ieelers in operative position, a number ot pairs oi2 contacts each adapted to be controlled by one or by a combination ot said feelers, an electro-magnetic device, and sivitch mechanism arranged to connect said pairs oi contacts separately to said electro-magnetic device or in series or in parallel therewith.

v9. In a record sheet controlled selector, the combination ot a number ot selecting feelers adapted to be set in and removed from operative position, means for bringing` the record sheets successively into engagement with tbe ieelers in operative position, a plurality ot actuating' members adapted to` lbe mechanically operated by one or by a combination ot said selectingfeelers, pairs ot contacts controlled by said actuating' members, an electro-magnetic de.- vice. and switch mechanism for connecting' said pairs of contacts separately With said electro-magneticv device or in series or in parallel therewith.

l0. In a record sheet controlled selector. the combination ot a number of selecting' feelers adaptedy to be set in and removed from operative position. means for bring'- ingg; the i'eeord sheets successively into engagement with the t'eelers in operative position. a number ot shittable contacts. each ot which is arranged to be controlled by one or by a combination et said teelers. a relay controlled by one ot said contacts, and an electric circuit controlled by the combined operation ot said relay and ot' another' et said contacts.

l1. In a record sheet cont-rolled selector. the combination ot a number ot selecting` feelers adapted to be set in and removed from operative position, means 'for bring'- ing the record sheets successively into engagement ivith the, teelers in operative position. a number ot shittable contacts.I each ot which is arranged to be controlled by one or by a combination ot said selecting teelers, a relay adapted to be controlled by one or by a number o'l said contacts. and an electro-magnetic device arranged to be, controlled by Ysaid relay and by Vone or a` combination ot other of said contacts.

l2. In a record controlled selecting apparatus. the combination ot a set ot record engaging' ieelers adapted to be variably set in operative position. means for successively bringingthe records into engagement vvith the feelers in operative position, a number ot actuating' members each adapted to be controlled by one or a combination ot said 'tech-ws, and means variably controlled b v said actnatinnv members in accordance with a positive. or a negative recorded item or ionibination ot such items.

13. In apparatus of the class described, the combination ot record cards haying index mark positions along opposite side edges thereof, a pair of holders having' seats corresponding` to the index mark positions ot the records,r selecting leelers remoyably mounted in the seats ot' said holders, means tor successivelyY leeding the vcards into position between said holders and tor engaging the feelers and cards.I and actuating members each controlled by one or more 'teelers in one of said holders.

14. In apparatus of the class described, the combination ot record cards having index mark positions along opposite side edges thereof, a pair ot holders having seats correspomilingto the index mark positions of the records, selectingteelers removablyY mounted in the seats ot said holders, means for successively feeding the cards into position between said holders and for engaging the feelers and cards, actuating members associated with said holders and each controlled by one or more feelers in one of said holders, and indicating means or the like arranged to be controlled by one of said actuating members or by the combined operation ot' a plurality of said members.

15. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of record cards havingindex mark positions along` opposite side edges thereof` a pair of holders having seats corresponding' to the index' mark positions of the records`r selectingfeelers removably mounted in the seats of said holders, means for successively feedingl the cards into position between said holders and for engaging the feelers and cards,` pairs ot contacts each controlled by one or more of the teelers on each ot said holders. and an operating electric circuit arranged to-be controlled by a selected pair ot contacts or by the combined operation ot a predetermined group of said pairs of contacts.

16. In a recording and selecting system, the combination ot' records having index mark positions corresponding to the unitsf7 tens, hundreds etc., and additional index mark positions associated respectively with said unitsj tens hundreds etc.` positions, holding means having seats corresponding to said numbered and said additional index mark positions, selecting teelers adapted to be rariably positioned in said seats and controlled by said records. and an actuating member or members controlled by said teelers.

l?. In a recording and selecting system, the combination ot records haring index mark positions corresponding to the unitsfl tens,"" hundreds etc., and additional index mark positions associated respectively with said "unitsfl tensf hundredsf7 etc., positions` and a set ot selecting teelers controlled by said records and adapted to be adjustably set in operative position in accordance with the units tensf hundreds, Tete., and the additional index mark positions ot' said records, and an actuating member or members adapted to be controlled by one or more ot said iieelers.

1S. In an apparatus ot the class described. a selector comprising a set ot 'leelers adapted to be set in position correspondingir to the index mark positions ot' the recordsl` aplurality ot shittable contacts, each adapted to be selectively controlled by one or by the combined operation ot a number of said iieelersv` circuits controlled by said contacts. and adj nstable switch mechanism interposed in said circuits and adapted to be set in ditterent positions to eticct the selection ot the records in accordance with ditlerent items or combinations ot items recorded thereon.

19. In an apparatus ot the class described, the combination ot' a set ot record engaging feelers adapted to be adjustably set in positions corresponding with the index mark positions ot the records.` a plurality ot` shittable contacts` each of which is arranged to be controlled by one or by the combined operation otI a plurality ot said teelers. ay relay controlled by certain ot said contacts, a magnet controlled by the combined operation ot said rela-y and certain ot other said contacts` and adjustable switches interposed in the circuits ot' said relay and said magnet, and adapted to be set in position to yariably modit'y the operation of said selector in accordance with different predetermined requirements.

PAUL C. RAYMOND. 

